KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 — A piece of Kentucky Fried Chicken, a butterscotch bun and a bottle of mineral water at just RM5.

The meal above dubbed the KFC Menu Rahmah Meal, is one of two products now being offered by KFC and Pizza Hut as part of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration’s affordable food programme.

Launching the KFC and Pizza Hut Rahmah Meals was Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, Minister of Domestic Trade and Living Cost, who touted the fast food chains’ participation as yet another sign of Menu Rahmah’s success since its roll-out back in January.

"I’m happy that we’ve managed to rope in two gigantic brands,” he said at the menu’s launch held at the KFC and Pizza Hut outlets in Wangsa Maju here.

KFC and Pizza Hut are among the country’s most popular fast food franchises. Both are operated by QSR Brands (M) Holdings, a multi-billion-ringgit company. Johor’s investment arm, Johor Corporation, is its largest shareholder.

Pizza Hut’s Rahmah Meal will be the "Personal Pizza” and a bottle of mineral water, also at just RM5.

QSR Brands chief executive officer and managing director Nehcal Kanna touted the menus as corporate social responsibility, a way "to give back to the community”.

"It’s a pragmatic and workable solution to help the community through these challenging times,” he said at the launch.

Menu Rahmah was rolled out in January this year as a short-term solution to soaring living costs, which have been largely driven by spiralling food prices.

The programme is meant to give low-wage earners access to affordable food and participation by food sellers is voluntary although Salahuddin’s ministry said it would offer financial incentives.

Menu Rahmah’s meals, usually consisting of a piece of protein, vegetables and a choice of carbohydrates like rice or noodles, are sold for between RM5 and RM8.

Salahuddin said there are now 3,000 food sellers offering the affordable menu, including big restaurants.

The programme was initially met with some scepticism as critics questioned its financial viability, but Salahuddin said KFC and Pizza Hut’s participation proved Menu Rahmah is effective, and it should silence doubters.

"The participation by two giant brands should erase all the scepticism and naysayers,” he said.